Electrical terminal



April 3, 1945. A. 1.. BECKET 2,372,653

' ELECTRICAL TERMINAL Filed April 19, 1940 Tlci.

NVENTOR ALAN L. EEC/(5T ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 3, 1945 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE 2,372,653 ELECTRICAL TERMINAL Alan L. Becket, East Orange,N. J.

Application April 19, 1940, Serial No. 330,438

2 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in electric terminals in whichelectric connection is made between insulated wire and the terminalswithout removing the insulation. Contact is effected between insulatedwires and terminals by crushing, piercing or impaling the insulation.The wire is pressed against the terminal, which terminal contains sharpprongs at its end or about a terminal screw, rivet, nail, eyelet, washeror disc, which said terminal screw, rivet, nail, eyelet, washer, or dischas sharp prongs to crush or pierce the insulation and thus makecontact.

As will be apparent from the disclosures in my prior patents,#2-,053,060 for Attachment plug and #1,991,045 for Electric plug forimprovements in piercing insulated wires in such devices an essentialfeature in such piercing is that it be accomplished by a permanent andstable piercing terminal which is simple in construction and inexpensiveto manufacture and which can be operated by anyone whether skilled orunskilled in the art of electrical equipment. Other essential featuresare that such improvements can be used in connection with a terminalbox, socket, receptacle, attachment plug, portable appliances such asvacuum cleaners, toasters, and the like in which the terminal connectionis subject to constant tugging, pulling or vibration, switch board ortumbler board or any other type of electrical connections.

It should be pointed out that the pressure of the insulated wire againstthe terminal has a function in maintaining a pressure upon the threadsof the terminal screw to eliminate the tendency of the screw comingloose under vibration, wear, expansion or contraction. Play between thethreads of the screw and the threads into which it is screwed iseliminated in my device. The resiliency of the insulation material givesthe desired pressure to press the terminal against the screw head tomaintain frictional contact between the engaging threads.

It is a simplified type ,of-construction, inexpensive to manufacture andeasy to use. Its mm and diversified uses are too numerous to mention andits simplicity lends to its general usefulness. Some of its forms anduses are disclosed in the following drawing to which reference is made;however applicant does not confine his invention to those disclosed asmany other uses and purposes not disclosed in said drawing are possible.

Figure .1 is a clamping screw arrangement.

Figure 2 is bottom view of the piercing washwasher shown in Figure 1.

Reading on Figure 1 is a clamping screw arrangement and consists of thefollowing parts: I9 is screw head, H0 is shank portion of screw, I l Irolled out thread portion of screw, H2 piercing washer, H3 contactprongs, H4 locking ribs. In Figure 1, the unthreaded portion H0 of thescrew shank directly below the head portion I09 of the screw is smallerin diameter than the threaded portion Ill. The portion H0 of the shankprovides an annular groove or recess in which the washer H2 is free torotate. The rolled out threads I ll hold the washer from sliding downthe screw shank.

Figure 2 is bottom view of the piercing washer 2, shown in Figure 1 Iclaim:

1. A clamping screw arrangement comprising a headed screw having a.threaded shank, a washer with contact prongs tapered for piercinginsulation on an insulated conductor wire and making electrical contactwith the conductor when the shank is screwed into a cooperating member,said washer being rotatable on the screw shank and being non-separabletherefrom.

2. A clamping screw arrangement comprising a headed screw having a.threaded shank, a washer with contact prongs tapered to a point topierce the insulation of an insulated conductor wire and make electricalcontact with the condu'ctor when the shank is screwed into a cooperatingmember, said washer being rotatable on the screw shank and beingnon-separable therefrom.

ALAN L. BECKET.

